Security Officer Network

I Am Not Ready to Start My Security Company

--> Important immediate action items for planning to start your own security agency

So you want to start a security company but the time just isn't right for you. Maybe you are saving up start up cash or are wanting to earn your degree. Perhaps you don't have a good reason except you simply haven't summoned the courage to step out on your own.

That's all understandable. For now, you are content to work for another security agency while waiting for the right time.

That's fine!

But you are not off of the hook. There's much to be done to prepare for that day; even though it's months or years into the future. Time is on your side as the private security industry will only grow in the future.

Here are the steps which you can and should take immediately.

1. Gather and Document all of the Latest Security Gossip

Let's face it, during those long night shifts many security officers don't have a lot to do - except talk.

I can recall spending hours talking with the security officer who patrolled the office complex next to a hotel site where I conducted patrols for my company. We built a friendship even though we worked for competing companies.

During the course of a given shift, I would spy his patrol car driving the perimeter of the neighboring site and would strike up a conversation. He would tell me about his job. He had a lot to talk about! As a patrol officer he wasn't confined to just one site. He drove from site to site and had first hand knowledge about an array of information such as the locations of various security sites at which I had an intense interest in winning a contract for my company.

Based on my friend's testimony, I knew where the competition's sites were located and could also hear the latest gossip about the relationship of the client with the security provider - my friend's employer.

Perhaps a client had become dissatisfied because the security agency had overloaded their patrol officers and had been ghosting the patrols. I knew that I had a chance to get that business the next time a bid was let. In fact, I might even find out when the contract was up for renewal simply by talking to my new friend.

This scenario plays out each and every night in the security industry. Security officers talk to other security officers and they both talk about their employers and their employers' clients.

As someone who wants to start a security agency, you must look for opportunities to collect this vital intelligence and document each item of actionable intelligence.

If carefully curated, this documentation will evolve into the roadmap for your new company's marketing campaign. Over the years your database of industry knowledge will provide a competitive advantage which others will be hard pressed to match.

Your database will provide vital and actionable business intelligence such as contract renewal dates, so you never miss out on a bid opportunity; the name of the contact person, allowing you to quickly bypass gatekeepers and submit your bid to the correct person; prime bidding opportunities, where the current security provider is dropping the ball and the client is ready for a change; and, the identity of hard to serve clients who should be avoided at all costs.

The database doesn't need to be complicated. It's just fine if the original iteration of the database is no more than a simple excel spreadsheet containing fields such as site name, current security provider, and disposition of the client if known.

2. Buy a Domain Name, Create a Website and Start Blogging

Here's something to remember. Search engines have a preference towards aged websites. It may take some time for a new security site to receive a favorable search engine placement. It's your mission to reserve a strong generic domain name with an emphasis on your local security market. A future security agency owner in Reno Nevada might chose to register the domain names, RenoSecurityOfficers.com, RenoSecurityProfessionals.com or RenoSecurityGuards.com.

Instead of simply parking the domain, it's important for you to occasionally post content such as blog posts or even just small bits of commentary linking to security industry news stories. The search engines will see this traffic and begin indexing the pages of your site. The posts don't have to be in-depth or prolific but should provide assistance to your reader. For example, a post entitled "Five Steps a Reno Business Owner can Take to Prevent Break-ins" would prove helpful to the reader and future client and if well-written would build your credentials as a security professional.

Using this strategy you will have already built a strong Web presence by the time you are ready to start your new business.

3. Source Your Future Employees

After running a security agency for a few months, you might be tempted to conclude that you've traded your career as a security professional for that of staffing agency director. Finding good help, who will show up on time and stay awake throughout the entirety of their shift isn't the easiest task.

It's never too soon to start taking note of those good officers who work in your community and might be future recruits.

Pay close attention to the disposition and general attitude of your colleagues. If they constantly complain about their current employer, make no mistake, they will complain about you too should you hire them in the future.

Your time as an employee allows you to observe the other security personnel through the lense of a co-worker. As your co-worker they are much more likely to be open and honest with you now than in the future when you are their employer.

Keep an eye out for those professional officers and keep them in mind for the day when you will be looking for great employees.

As a former security agency owner, I can testify first hand that great employees aren't easy to find.

Take my word for it!

Let me know what you think.

What are some of the things you are doing to prepare for starting your security agency? Have you already started an agency? What are your preparation suggestions for those future agency owners?

JW Murphey

Murphey started a private security agency at the age of 19. He enjoys writing articles to assist those in the security industry with the licensing and training process. He can be contacted @JW.Murphey@securityofficerhq.com.

SecurityOfficerHQ.com is the exclusive provider of this free 72 page guide. It features just about everything you need to know before taking the exam and includes The Professional Security Officer eCourse. You may get your copy for
free right now only at SecurityOfficerHQ.com! Submit your name and email to receive your copy via email or click here to learn more about this guide.